These healthy Banana Protein Pancakes can be whipped together in a matter of 10 minutes and only a blender is required! Plus, they are high in protein and fibre, making for an ultra filling breakfast. Say hello to your new favourite breakfast! {Gluten-free & dairy-free}
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Banana Protein Pancake Recipe
Protein pancakes are one of those foods that I’ve always craved at breakfast time.
I went through a phase several years ago where I’d eat them for breakfast pretty much every day (when I had more time in the mornings) and sometimes even for lunch and dinner!
These days, with life being so crazy busy, I tend to reserve them more so for weekends. And I definitely look forward to those weekends!
I’ve done my fair share of pancake experiments over the years, some have turned out, while others have turned into a pile of slop that ended up in the garbage can.
Out of all of my pancakes experiments, these super easy banana protein pancakes are definitely one of my go-to recipes, along with these Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes, which are great for the Fall!
Reasons to love this Protein Banana Pancakes Healthy Recipe
- There is no added sugar because they are naturally sweetened with bananas. No added sugar equals less garbage and more awesomeness for your body. Enough said.
- They are full of protein due to the eggs, egg whites and optional protein powder. As a Dietitian, you have no clue how many conversations I have with people trying to get them to up their protein intake at breakfast time. These pancakes help solve the protein problem.
- They are full of fibre due to the presence of oats and chia seeds. Fibre means fullness.
- You make them in a blender. That’s right. Throw all of the ingredients in a blender and press start. Yup, it’s that simple.
- You can eat them plain because they resemble that banana bread kind of taste. Or if you’re feeling decadent, you can top them up with with all the things.
Ingredients for Banana High Protein Pancakes:
So let’s get to the ingredients list because I know you’re dying to know what goes into this simple protein pancakes recipe ;)
- Oats
- Chia seeds
- Eggs
- Egg whites
- Banana
- Vanilla extract
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Optional protein powder (I like this one)
How Do You Make Protein Pancakes
In a blender, mix together all of the ingredients listed above until combined and smooth (see full protein pancakes recipe below).
Preheat griddle to medium high heat. Spray with cooking spray. Using a tablespoon, scoop pancake mixture on the pan so it forms a medium-sized circle (use about 2 heaping tablespoons of pancakes mixture for each pancake).
Cook for 4-5 minutes on the first side or until edges start to harden and bubbles start to form on the surface. Flip and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes on the other side.
It literally takes 10 minutes to whip these babies up!
Why do my protein pancakes fall apart?
It’s possible that the pan isn’t quite hot enough so you may need to turn up the heat so that the pancakes become firm enough on one side before flipping.
The other reason the pancakes may be falling apart is that you might be trying to flip them too soon after pouring the pancake batter on the cooking surface. It’s generally best to leave them alone until you see bubbles start to form on the surface of the pancakes. When you reach this point, you can flip the pancakes.
What type of oats should I use?
You can use large flake oats or quick oats for the purpose of this recipe.
The only type of oats that I don’t recommend are steel cut since they are too hard and won’t blend well to form a smooth pancake batter.
Can you make protein pancakes with protein powder?
Definitely! The protein powder increases the protein content and adds some additional sweetness, especially if you use a flavoured variety. You can use a whey protein powder or a plant-based protein powder depending on your dietary preferences.
What type of protein powder should I use?
I’ve personally tested out this recipe using both whey and a vegan protein powder, both vanilla flavoured and the unflavoured variety.
I tend to prefer the vanilla protein powder as it makes the pancakes a bit sweeter and gives them more flavour, but you can certainly use unflavoured if you prefer.
Do I have to use protein powder?
If you don’t have any protein powder on hand or prefer not to use it, you don’t have to add it in. Keep in mind that it will increase the protein content of these pancakes in addition to the eggs and egg whites.
If you choose not to incorporate it, the protein content will be slightly lower.
Toppings for Banana Oatmeal Protein Pancakes:
Now pancakes wouldn’t be all that exciting without those delicious toppings.
Here are some tasty ideas:
- Fresh banana slices
- Peanut butter or almond butter
- Chocolate chipse
- Shredded Coconut
- Maple syrup
- Chia seed jam
- Berries
The options really are endless.
The best part is that you can switch up the flavour profile for any given day!
How to store these pancakes
Pancakes can be stored in the fridge in an air-tight container or covered with saran wrap for up to four days. Alternatively, you can freeze them in a freezer-friendly container or Ziploc bag for up to a month.
Can you freeze protein pancakes?
Yes, I love freezing protein pancakes for a quick and easy breakfast or snack! You can freeze them for up to three months in a freezer safe bag or container. If you’re stacking the pancakes, separate them with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.
How to Reheat High Protein Pancakes
You can reheat them by either popping them in the microwave for a couple of minutes or placing them in the toaster or toaster oven until heated through.
They’re all ready to devour.
Protein Pancake Recipe Tips:
- Use an overripe banana to infuse maximum sweetness into these pancakes. I like to store any overripe spotty bananas that are about to go bad in the freezer. They come in handy for recipes like these!
- You can use egg whites from a whole egg or purchase a carton of egg whites. We always like to have a carton of egg whites in the fridge to incorporate into things like omelettes or pancakes.
- If you include the protein powder, try to look for one that’s low in sugar and has minimal processed ingredients. I generally like to use the Vegan Vanilla Protein Powder by Genuine Health.
Looking for other delicious recipes?
Check these out:
- Banana Protein Muffins
- Baked Cod with Panko
- Quinoa Cakes
- Shrimp Taco
- Easy Stir Fry Sauce
- No Bake Protein Balls
- Yogurt Smoothie
- Pear Salad
- Kale Salad
- Chicken Burger
- Breakfast Ideas for Kids
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a rating and review!
Protein Pancakes with Banana and Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup egg whites
- 1 ripe banana*
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp vanilla protein powder optional
Instructions
- In a blender, mix together all of the ingredients until combined and smooth.
- Preheat griddle to medium high. Spray with cooking spray. Using a tablespoon, scoop pancake mixture on the pan so it forms a medium circle (use about 2 heaping tablespoons for each pancake).
- Cook for 4-5 minutes on the first side or until edges start to harden and bubbles start to form on surface. Flip and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes on the other side.
- Top with sliced banana, peanut butter, chocolate chips, coconut and maple syrup, if desired.
Fantastic recipe! I added a bit more protein and doubled the vanilla. They were perfect. Thanks for the recipe!
That’s awesome! Can’t go wrong with a bit of extra protein and vanilla! Thanks so much for your feedback on the pancakes :)
Added chocolate chips and another batch added blueberries. Cooked them In tiny waffle maker makes about 6. Delicious. I eat them on the go and sometimes top with peanut butter.
Super easy to make. Thank you!
Ooh I love this idea!! So brilliant making them in a waffle maker! I bet they were delicious with the chocolate chips and blueberries too…such a great on the go snack idea! :)
Hello Elysia, would there be any substitute for the egg whites?
Thank you:)
Hi Cathy, I haven’t personally tried it myself but you could maybe try using cottage cheese as a substitute for the egg whites. It’s a higher protein option similar to the egg whites. If you find that the pancake batter is too thick once you add the cottage cheese, you could always add a bit of milk or milk alternative to thin out the batter a bit. Let me know how it goes if you try it out!
8-10 pancakes is the portion/serving size for one person? How many servings does this recipe make?
The recipe makes 8-10 pancakes total, so about 2-3 servings depending on how many pancakes you choose to have. Hope that helps!
Just made these and they’re great! I’m notoriously bad at making pancakes and these turned out delicious.
That’s awesome! So glad you were able to up your pancake making game ;)
I tried these last week and they were really good! I didn’t have chia seeds so I used a little bit of extra oats. They still turned out great!
So happy you enjoyed them and glad they worked out with the addition of some extra oats! Thanks for returning to leave a review!
Can’t wait to try this! Can I use regular flour instead of oats, and if so, how much would be ideal?
I haven’t tried subbing in regular flour but you can certainly try it! I would start with maybe half a cup of flour, blend the mixture and then increase the amount if desired until you reach a pancake batter consistency. Let me know how it goes if you try it out!
This is the first banana pancake recipe that had chia seeds in it. Loved them! Super easy to make and simple ingredients.
So happy you loved the pancakes Lisa — the chia seeds are definitely a great addition and help add that boost of nutrients! :) Thanks for swinging back to leave a review!
Hi! Flavor was delish but it came out a bit dry and tough. What did I do wrong ?
Hmm it’s tough to say without having a few more details. A few things I can think of:
1. The type of protein powder used. Certain protein powders could result in a more dry/tough texture.
2. How long was the pancake mixture sitting prior to cooking? The chia seeds tend to absorb excess moisture, causing the mixture to thicken up more over time, which could result in pancakes that are more dry and tough. In this case, you may want to add some extra liquid to the mixture if it seems too thick before cooking.
3. How long after cooking did you consume the pancakes? They tend to get more dry as they sit.
4. Is it possible that they may have been overcooked?
You could also try leaving out the chia seeds next time to see if that helps with the texture. They add some additional nutrients, but aren’t essential to the recipe. Hope that helps and I’m glad you enjoyed the flavour!
Do I put in a 3rd egg is I don’t have a carton of egg whites? Or what do you recommend ?
Half a cup of egg whites is equivalent to four large eggs, so you would need to sub in four eggs to replace the egg whites. You could also try making chia or flax eggs if you don’t want to use that many eggs in the recipe. To make one chia or flax egg, soak 1 tbsp of chia seeds or ground flaxseed with 3 tbsp water. Allow to thicken for 5 minutes. Use as you would a regular egg. Hope that helps!
Amazing thank you!! Just made them and they are delicious :)
That’s awesome — so happy you enjoyed them! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback :)
There are no quantities on the recipe, am I missing something??!!
The quantities are at the bottom of the post in the recipe card :)
Hands down the best protein pancake I have found. The texture is almost identical to regular pancakes.
Yay!! Love getting that kind of feedback! So happy you enjoyed the recipe :)
These came out great! I like to add more protein powder and a little more banana :) how much is the serving size, one pancake?
So glad you enjoyed the pancakes! Can’t go wrong with a little extra protein powder and banana! And yes, the nutritional information is for one pancake, so typically the recipe makes about 2-3 servings.
Can I store unused batter in the fridge?
You should be able to keep the batter in the fridge for a day or two. It may thicken up the longer that it sits, so you may need to add some additional liquid (i.e. egg whites or milk/milk alternative) to the mixture if you find that it’s too thick. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
Omg so good I’m so glad google brought me here after a good workout I looked up protein pancakes because I’m so tired of smoothies 🤮 I surprisingly had all the ingredients and whipped it up (blended) lol super fast. I added frozen blueberrie🤌🏽✨✨
I’m so happy that you found these pancakes too! I totally get it with the smoothies haha…nice to have other options to get that protein post-workout. Love the addition of the blueberries too! Thanks so much for stopping by :)
These come out perfectly delicious every time!! A high protein breakfast I’ve enjoyed throughout my pregnancy guilt free !
So happy you’ve been enjoying the pancakes Shelli! I appreciate you stopping by to comment :) Best of luck with your pregnancy and new baby!
I would love to try this recipe but don’t have any chia seeds. Do you think that ground flax would be a good substitute?
Thanks
Yes flax would work well too! Or you could leave the chia seeds out altogether as it won’t significantly alter the recipe. Hope you enjoy the recipe if you try it out!
These were great-had to stop myself from eating more than one serving!
I totally get the struggle! I have that same issue when eating these pancakes!! So happy you enjoyed the recipe :)
Hi! The calories given, is that for the serving size of 8-10 or for only 1 pancake? And they tasted amazing!! Thank you!
Sorry for the delay Nicole! Yes, the nutritional information is for one pancake, so typically the recipe makes about 2-3 servings. So happy you enjoyed the pancakes! :)
These were some the best protein gluten free pancakes I made! I love the clean ingredients and how fluffy they were and how simple they were to make! I posted on my ig with whipped cream and sprinkles on top of the stack they were a nice looking stack!
So happy you loved the pancakes Rianna! I bet they were delicious with the whipped cream and sprinkles..so pretty too! Thanks so much for stopping by to comment :)
I can’t believe how light and fluffy these pancakes were for being protein pancakes! YUM YUM YUM
Thank you for this recipe
My pleasure Stephanie! So happy that you enjoyed these pancakes! Definitely one of my favourites :)
BEST PROTEIN PANCAKES EVER. Nothing beats the fluffiness of this one!! Cut recipe in half for one serving and here’s the changes I made:
-1 egg to 2 1/2 tbsp of egg whites
-filled up oats halfway in a 1/2 measuring cup and the rest with vanilla protein powder
-didnt use blender. just mixed with fork
get creative!! i added hemp seeds and topped with berries and maple syrup. add sprinkles, chocolate chips, food coloring, whatever you want!!
Thanks so much Sneha! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Love your modifications and serving suggestions!!
Wow these are amazing. I added chocolate chips to them kids love these.
Thanks so much Shannon! Love the addition of the chocolate chips! I bet that tasted amazing!!
A new favourite breakfast!
Yay!! Aren’t they delish?! So glad you enjoyed them!
Absolutely loved this recipe! Will definitely be on a regular rotation.
Thanks Julie! So happy you enjoyed it :)
These are soooo delicious! thank you for sharing
My pleasure! So glad you enjoyed them!
These are wonderful! I beat the egg whites by hand and the pancakes still turned out fluffy and so tasty! Great idea!
Thanks so much Diya! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Great idea to beat the egg whites by hand!
Haha, I am SO DOWN to have these pancakes for dinner or dessert. I am hoping I can make this with flax eggs and vegan protein powder to make this recipe vegan!
You and me both!! Love pancakes anytime of day! Please let me know how the pancakes turn out if you try subbing in the flax eggs and vegan protein powder!
Are the 92 calories per pancake? So I figured I wanted to eat 5 of these it would be a little under 500 calories?
Yup, that’s correct! Usually I’ll have half a batch of the pancakes in one sitting which is 4-5 pancakes. The calories will vary slightly depending on your protein powder as well. Hope you enjoy!
does the nutritional info include the protein powder?
So sorry for the delay! Yes, the nutritional info does include the protein powder. Keep in mind that the protein content will vary depending on which protein powder you use!
5/5 that’s how good it was
Thanks so much Kaylee!! So glad you loved these pancakes!
These are soooo delicious! They look too pretty and fluffy to be healthy, they taste too yummy to be healthy, but yet they are. I didn’t have chia seeds but that would dial up the healthiness even more. Thanks for my new go-to recipe!
Yay!! SO happy you loved these pancakes! So easy and healthy, right?!
These pancakes look delicious and such perfect timing seeing as it’s pancake day today too! I need to give this recipe a try :)
Thanks Gemma! Wow I didn’t even realize that it was pancake day today…that worked out well haha! Hope you enjoy the recipe if you try it out!